Abstract

Elmar Nass:
Being Church and Christians today – a missionary vision
(FKTh 2019-2, p. 116–137)

So-called upsets from the pastoral depression of our day church have so far yielded little fruit. In this article, an encouraging vision of the future shows us a possible way. A German diocese in the year 2040: The church is again credible, winning and missionary. Essential reasons of the current crisis are recognized and turned to the good. Decline and self-pity have come to an end. Again in focus: friendship with Jesus Christ, credible Christian role models, our convincing image of mankind in mind, the consciousness of transcendence for life, joy in faith, inviting confession etc. This missionary vision is a critical reflection of our being church today, on the one hand, a realistic perspective on church renaissance on the other. The path to new credibility is pre-drawn in three steps: attitudes, beliefs and actions.